Nigel Rodley facts for kids

Sir Nigel S. Rodley in 2015

Sir Nigel Simon Rodley (born Rosenfeld; 1 December 1941 – 25 January 2017) was an important international lawyer and university professor. He was known for his work protecting human rights around the world.

Early Life and Family

Nigel Rodley was born in Yorkshire, England, on 1 December 1941. His parents, Hans and Rachel Rosenfeld, later changed their family name to Rodley. His father served in the British Army and sadly died in 1944 during World War II.

Nigel went to Clifton College, a school where he was part of a Jewish boarding house. He spoke English, French, German, and Spanish. In 1967, he married Lynette Bates. Sir Nigel Rodley passed away on 25 January 2017, at the age of 75.

His Work for Human Rights

Sir Nigel Rodley dedicated his life to protecting human rights. He held many important roles where he worked to ensure people were treated fairly and with dignity.

Key Roles and Organizations

• UN Human Rights Committee: From 2001 to 2016, he was a member of this group of 18 experts. They checked if countries were following the rules of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects people's basic rights.
• International Commission of Jurists: He was a Commissioner for this group, which works to promote human rights and the rule of law worldwide.
• INTERIGHTS: He helped start and was a leader in this organization. It focused on using legal methods to protect human rights globally.
• Freedom from Torture: He was a trustee for this charity. It helps people who have experienced torture, which is cruel and severe treatment.
• International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP): He was part of this expert group. They were asked by the President of Sri Lanka to watch over an investigation into serious human rights problems in that country.
• Crimes Against Humanity Initiative: He was on the advisory council for this project. It aimed to create the first international agreement to prevent and punish very serious crimes against large groups of people.

His Education

Sir Nigel Rodley studied law at several universities, earning different degrees:

• Dalhousie University, 2000 (honorary degree)
• University of Essex, 1992
• New York University, 1970
• Columbia University, 1965
• University of Leeds, 1963

Teaching and Academic Career

Sir Nigel Rodley was also a respected teacher. He shared his knowledge of law and human rights with students.

• He was a Professor of Law and led the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex. He taught there from 1990.
• Before that, he taught at Dalhousie University, the New School for Social Research in New York, and the London School of Economics.

Important Past Positions

• UN Special Rapporteur on Torture: From 1993 to 2001, he had a very important job for the United Nations. He investigated and reported on cases of torture around the world. His role was to help stop this cruel practice.
• Amnesty International: He worked for this famous human rights organization from 1973 to 1990. He was a legal advisor and led the office that dealt with legal matters and other organizations.

Awards and Recognition

Sir Nigel Rodley received awards for his important work:

• In 2005, he received the Goler T. Butcher Medal from the American Society of International Law. This award recognized his excellent work in human rights.
• In 1998, he was honored with a KBE (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire). This award recognized his great service to human rights and international law.